Leased Vehicles Under the Rhode Island Lemon Law
How Rhode Island's lemon law covers leased vehicles — lessee election of refund or replacement, refund mechanics, and the 100,000-mile offset.
Leased vehicles are covered under the Rhode Island Lemon Law. Section 31-5.2-3 expressly gives the lessee the same election — refund of the lease price or a comparable replacement.
How leases qualify
- The vehicle is a covered automobile, truck, motorcycle, or van under 10,000 lbs.
- Within the term of protection (one year or 15,000 miles) for the presumption.
- 4 attempts or 30 calendar days out of service, plus the 7-day final cure.
Refund mechanics for a lease
A lease refund under § 31-5.2-3 generally returns:
- The lease price (payments made, including collateral charges).
- Collateral charges — sales tax, registration fee, finance charges.
- Towing and rental costs.
- Minus the use offset on the 100,000-mile basis.
The manufacturer resolves the remaining lease obligation with the lessor.
The lessee’s election applies
A lessee can elect refund or replacement (§ 31-5.2-3(1)) — Rhode Island’s consumer-favorable election — pursued through the Arbitration Board.
DTPA and Magnuson-Moss for lessees
Lessees have the same DTPA and Magnuson-Moss overlays.
Bottom line
Rhode Island gives lessees the full lemon-law remedy, returning the lease price and collateral charges (less the small 100,000-mile offset) and unwinding the lease — at the lessee’s election. Get a free case review.
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Read →Think you've got a lemon?
Compare your situation to your state's requirements — and connect with a vetted lemon-law attorney for a free case review.